What are 6 of the Most Common Factors That Lead to Addiction?

1. Genetics

Genes provide information on how our bodies respond at a cellular level. 99 percent of our genes are the same, while the 1 percent that are different account for things like hair and eye color, height, and even the potential for heart disease, diabetes or addiction to drugs and alcohol.

There is also evidence that the presence of specific genes, involved in alcohol metabolism and the transmission of nerve cell signals, increases the risk of becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol.

2. Social Environment

Social interactions and environmental circumstances fire up the brain’s reward pathways.

As with most things, this can have both positive and negative affects on different individuals.

In cases where people live or attend school, or work in environments where alcohol and drugs are widely used as a way to bond, it’s been shown they’re more likely to fall into patterns of substance abuse and addiction.

3. Age of First Use

Children who begin using alcohol or drugs before the age of 13 are 38% more likely to develop the disease of addiction.

Even moderate levels of abuse can damage their brains, which are generally not fully matured until the age of 25.

4. Mental Illness

Half of drug abusers and about a third of alcoholics are also coping with a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety.

Likewise, half of those living with a severe mental illness, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, have substance abuse issues.

5. Early Childhood Trauma

Neglect, physical and emotional abandonment, sexual, physical and psychological abuse are all examples of trauma.

Scientists know that this kind of distress actually alters the brain chemistry of children and makes them more vulnerable to addiction later in life.

6. Adult Trauma

This is similar to childhood trauma though it occurs later in life.

Those who suffer the loss of a loved one, such as a child, friend or spouse, or develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of combat experience, a car wreck or sexual assault have a propensity to self-medicate using drugs and alcohol.

This often leads to dependency and addiction.

Simply understanding the causes of addiction will not alleviate it. However, being aware of the underlying reasons for the disease helps those seeking recovery and their loved ones to identify circumstances and events that have brought the illness on or out of remission.

In the United States, one out of every 10 adults is addicted to drugs and alcohol. That’s nearly 24 million people, roughly the population of Texas.

Reducing the stigma associated with addiction and approaching this public health issue with compassion can make all the difference for those considering treatment.